On Monday, January 30, 2012, Suite101 chatted with indie pop singer-songwriter Jessarae about his newest album Pilot, for which he wrote every song. It was released via his own label, Raystone Records. He is the son of esteemed hockey player Luc Robitaille and the brother of actor Steven R. McQueen.
Jessarae Talks Influences
Jessarae lists The Beatles, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and Neil Young as his greatest influences in music. “Growing up my mother gave me a lot of inspiration as well,” he says.
“Both of my parents were really good about letting me find who I am. My mom never pushed me to get into singing, and my father never persuaded me to play hockey. I figured out for myself what I wanted to do. I have a brother who is 23 now, and an actor, and it was the same situation for him. They are good parents!” he exclaims.
“Ultimately, I just want to be able to keep doing what makes me happy in life. Music makes me happier than anything else I do,” he acknowledges.
Jessarae Discusses his “Pilot” Album
“I wrote everything on Pilot and it came together quickly,” he reveals.” I am happy with the result. My goal for this was to create a really raw-sounding record, and I think we pulled it off,” he shares. “I started writing when I was nine, and that’s when I began to play guitar.”
“I love how that I stuck to who I am through the process of making it. I wanted to capture the live vibe with this album, and I was rehearsing extensively before I got into the studio with my band. Honestly, I am proud of the whole project and how it came together. I wanted to make a good piece of work. I have a special connection with some of the songs, such as ‘If I Know You At All’ since the lyrics are very personal and I like the way it came out,” he adds.
Jessarae Talks “Stuck on You”
“‘Stuck on You’ was recorded in the studio and it was a chaotic song, since there was a lot going on in the lyrics, so I guess that’s why we picked that one. I have a video for it on YouTube, and it was fun to watch.”
Jessarae Talks “Tangerines”
“‘Tangerines’ almost didn’t make it on the record, but as I was listening to the songs, I thought it was lighter and it needed to be on there. It adds to the reggae vibe.”
Jessarae Shares his Pre-show Rituals
“We pray a little bit before shows, because that is something that my mom used to do. I want to remember how thankful I am that I get to do this. Sometimes, I do jumping jacks too.”
Jessarae Talks About Taylor Swift
On December 31, 2011, at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hilla, California, Jessarae received a surprise visit backstage from global music sensation Taylor Swift. “After I got off the stage, my mother told me that somebody wanted to meet me. Taylor told me that her favorite song of mine was ‘So Magical.’ That was a cool feeling,” he states.
Jessarae’s Dream Duet Choices
He notes that Bjork, Kate Bush and Adele, would be his dream duet choices in music.
Jessarae Addresses his Fans
“I am so grateful to my fans, and the people that liked my Pilot CD. It’s so humbling, and it’s awesome that I get to what makes me happy every day. I could not do it without them!”
For more information on Jessarae, visit his official website and follow him on Twitter.
Markos Papadatos - Markos Papadatos holds over six years journalism experience, authoring over 700 articles, many of which are feature profile interviews.
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